Eye on Town Government

by Susan MacEachron

A proposed new storage garage across Route 44 from George’s Norfolk Garage was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting on Jan. 20.  

George Auclair owns four acres across from his existing garage, and the land is zoned for commercial development. However, the zoning setback requirements of 75 feet from the front property line and 100 feet from the rear property line, where it abuts a residential zone, leave a permissible building envelope of approximately 24 feet. The proposed garage is 50 feet by 100 feet and could not be approved by Planning & Zoning because it does not comply with the regulations. Auclair appealed to the ZBA.

Ronald Wolff of Wolff Engineering presented plans to ZBA members detailing the location of the garage on the site and the driveway to access it. Wolff reiterated that the garage is intended solely for storage. 

Prior to unanimously approving the plan, several members of ZBA noted how few areas in Norfolk are zoned for commercial development and that the setback requirements for this particular property would render it worthless for commercial use. 

Auclair will still require approval from the State of Connecticut for the driveway entry on Route 44.